Massive Strike in West Bengal

KOLKATA: WEST Bengal came to a halt on February 20th. It was the rejoinder by the people of this state on the most debated and opposed general strike of recent times. Dictatorial ultimatums of the state government found no shore on the day except popular denunciation. Every sounds and even silence of the people of the people proclaimed popular rejection of the anti-people, anti-labour agenda of the UPA-II government as they along with millions of others across the country participated in the first day of the Two-Day Nationwide General Strike on February 20th and 21st .

The West Bengal state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), extending its full support to the two-day long nationwide strike call of 11 central trade unions, had appealed to the people of this state to observe all out strike. Various peasant organizations have also supported the strike which is aimed at betterment of lives of the working people. By not overlooking the historic importance of International Mother Language Day and showing confidence to the popular sentiments, the CPI(M) had asked the trade unions to allow partial discharge on the second day of strike in this state. And the trade unions responded positively to that appeal. Along with the popular rejection to the ruling strata’s intimidation, this strike marked a vivid instance of successful cooperation and understanding of the Party with the trade unions.

CONSTANT INTIMIDATION AND ATTACKS

West Bengal witnessed a massive participation of people in the strike refuting incessant intimidation from the TMC-led government. The government had taken multiple measures to attack the strike in various ways:

i. Police used opposing the strike: The government unprecedentedly used its police administration to propagate against strike. The police was engaged in mike campaign in different localities for the last two days.

ii. Ministers’ threats: The chief minister Mamata Banerjee and her council of special two-three ministers applied every measure to intimidate people just to oppose the strike.

iii.    Punitive Order: The West Bengal government issued a brutal order from the finance department where the state government employees were threatened to join the office on both days to avoid punitive measures like service break and salary-cut. The order even violates the Right to Strike.

iv.   Direct attacks: A series of attacks had been perpetrated in different localities for the last two weeks particularly in areas where people and left workers were campaigning for the strike.

But West Bengal, upholding its tradition of protest against all tyrannical measures against the common people, has made the strike a great success. From North to extreme South Bengal, the scenario of the state remained ‘stand still’ when the state private transport, factories, agricultural fields, shops across localities, shopping centres were completely disrupted due to not having enough commuters and workers.

The private transport workers rendered full support to the strike. Out of more than 5000 mini buses, just less than even 120 were plying on the streets; out of total 37,000 private buses, less than 1500 appeared on roads; most Tea Estates of North Bengal remained closed.

Industrial regions of the state witnessed a complete seize of work. Barrakpore Industrial belt was no less than a no man’s land where most of the labour and working people observed all out strike. Taratalla Industrial region observed strike in decisive manner with most of the industries and factories shut down. Coal mine areas and Durgapore Industrial region observed the first day of strike withstanding numerous threats and attacks from the authorities and the ruling party. Kalyani Industrial region was partially in action as the government and authority nexus had the workers forcefully locked in the factories overnight. Hoogly and Haldia Industrial belt observed strike in best possible way as they are in constant threat from ruling party goons and job insecurity.

GOVT-SPONSORED EVENTS OF ATTACKS

(i) Hazra, Minister Instigates: The state transport minister Madan Mitra overtly instigated the police to start a rampant lathicharge on February 20 on the innocent strike campaigners at Hajra Crossing. The police did not even spare senior citizens and women while arresting them.

(ii) Nimta, Left workers attacked and injured: A CPI(M) local committee secretary Ashok Sarkar was attacked and injured by Trinamool hooligans at Nimta; a primary school teacher was beaten brutally by the Trinamool hooligans in Halishshar, North 24 Parganas.

(iii) Asansol, Henious attempt to oppose the strike: Numerous events of attacks on the strike observers took place throughout Asansol along with two massive attacks by the ruling party goons, one at the Asansol Bazar and another at the BNR more. The hooliganism of the ruling party led to complete shutdown of all facilities in Asansol town.

(iv) West Midnapore, CPI(M) office vandalised: TMC workers unleashed massive attack at Narayangar and vandalised the CPI(M) local committee office situated there. Another event of attacking the strike observers and area Party office of CPI(M) occurred at Dantan.

TRADE UNIONS CONGRATULATE PEOPLE

At the end of the first day strike, the trade unions in a joint statement congratulated the working class in organised and unorganised sectors for making the strike successful, inspite of the threats given by the state chief minister. They condemned the death of AITUC leader Narendra Singh in Ambala, who was murdered by being crushed under the wheels. The organisers have called for all out rallies in the state in protest.

While confronting the various statements made to foil the two day general strike call, CITU West Bengal state president Shyamal Chakrabarty said at a press conference that despite the state government holding repeated talks to ply transport on the days of the strike, the working class rebuffed her attempts. Responding to her call to Election Commission to ban political parties that called for strike, Chakraborthy advised her to at least now read the Constitution and see what the Article on fundamental rights states.

Shyamal Chakrabarty has also spoken of dragging to the court those who have gone beyond their constitutional powers and have issued circulars to the emloyees compelling them to join duties to make the strike unsuccessful against their wish.

February 24, 2013

“People Support Us from Core of their Hearts” : MANIK SARKAR

INTERVIEW WITH MANIK SARKAR

Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar is the lead campaigner for the Left Front in the assembly elections. With few days left for polling, he is addressing around two to three meetings a day across the state.

Manik Sarkar, who came into politics through the student movement, emerged as a key leader of the state after becoming chief minister for the first time in 1998 when Dasarath Deb stepped down due to old age. Since then Manik Sarkar's record as chief minister has been exceptional to say the least. Tripura today is a role model for not only entire North East but to many bigger states also in terms of pro-people governance.

In an interview to N S Arjun of People’s Democracy at the CPI(M) state committee office on February 7, Manik Sarkar expressed full confidence about forming the Seventh Left Front government after the polls as people were supporting the Left Front from the core of their hearts.

Below are excerpts from that interview:

(Q) With polling to take place in a week's time, what is your assessment of the election scenario?

Manik Sarkar: The response from the common masses to Left Front's election campaign has been unprecedented. Rival parties supporters and workers are coming and joining our Party in big numbers. Even today in Sabroom sub-division, 64 persons joined our Party, among whom included one PCC member. People are supporting us from the core of their hearts due to their own experiences in terms of bringing peace in the state, strengthening democracy by decentralisation, improvement in their quality of life etc. There is also their experience of the Congress-led UPA II government's anti-people, pro-rich policies. That is why they are responding positively to our appeal to vote for Left Front for peace, democracy and continuity of pro-people developmental works.

(Q) What are the major achievements of the Left Front government in the last five years?

Manik Sarkar: The most important achievement has been the complete restoration of peace that had been shattered due to extremism. At one point of time Tripura and terrorism were synonymous. People had lost confidence and those with ability were deserting the state by migrating to other states. It was a continuous and tough struggle. Many of our ministers, MLAs, block samithi chairpersons, Party cadre, sympathisers and also commoners lost their precious lives in this struggle. The vigorous development work undertaken by us even in interior tribal areas has helped in countering extremists with the help of people. Now, Tripura is identified as a state of peace in the entire North East. The President of India decorated Tripura Police with President's Colours for outstanding success in combating three-decade old insurgency and ensuring there were no human rights abuses. Tripura is only the fourth state to receive this honour since Independence. This successful overcoming of extremist problem has been possible because of the role played by common people, both tribals and non-tribals.

Another major achievement has been the protection of the secular fabric of our state. Although Tripura is a small state, it is home to people belonging to Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions apart from tribals. We have ensured people's right to free expression of their religious beliefs. The Left Front government has no religion and therefore it treats all religions equal. We try our best to help and cooperate with them during their functions. This is very important because today this sort of secularism is under attack at the national level.

(Q) During our tour in interior parts of Tripura, we found good infrastructure in terms of schools, health centres, office buildings, bio-gas plants etc. In many places, construction activity is going on. Being a small state, how has the Left Front government been able to achieve this?

Manik Sarkar: This has been possible due to strengthening of democracy by taking it to grassroots. We decentralised power which was concentrated at ministers and bureaucrats level and placed it in the hands of grassroots bodies. I can claim with humility that our 3-tier panchayat system is one of the best performing panchayat systems in the country. We have empowered people through decentralisation of power. Other than this, the formation of Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council (TTADC) has been an important vehicle for empowerment of people at grassroots level. One can well understand the democratic atmosphere prevailing and the political consciousness of people by the fact that there is over 90 per cent polling during elections. In this the role of women has been very very important.

The quality of life of our people has been improving day by day due to the development work carried out by the Left Front government. We have made progress in agriculture and allied sectors, power generation, connectivity, health care and education, safe drinking water, modern sanitation etc. As per a survey conducted by union finance ministry and Central Statistical Office in 2004, the per capita income in Tripura was Rs 24,394. The same organisations in their survey in 2011 found that it had increased to Rs 50,750. This increased purchasing power of people is reflecting in different aspects of our society like trade, commerce, agriculture, food consumption etc. However, we are telling people that the state is developing fast but we are not yet satisfied with this. We need to improve further the quality of life of people, particularly the rural poor.

The disadvantaged sections of our society, the SC, ST, OBCs suffered the most during Congress regime. We have implemented special programmes to overcome their social, economic and cultural problems and these have yielded good results.

(Q) In the neo-liberal economic regime, the state governments have in general experienced a squeeze on their finances. In such a situation how has the Left Front government managed to achieve so much in terms of infrastructure development and welfare schemes for the people?

Manik Sarkar: The main reason is the Left Front government has ensured strict financial discipline.We are managing our finances and resources in a very cautious manner. We had  austerity measures right from the beginning. Salaries of our ministers and MLAs  are perhaps the lowest in the country. Whatever resources we have, we are utilising to the last penny with all seriousness. There is full transparency in spending and if there is any charge of corruption, we jump on it and take strict action if it is found true. Misuse of money is not tolerated. Empowerment of people through decentralisation has also helped in preventing leakages of scheme funds.  Another important reason is that our good performance is helping us to force the central government to release our share of funds.

(Q) We found educated graduates without job in some of the villages we visited. With a vibrant education system in the state, how big is unemployment problem a challenge for the Left Front government?

Manik Sarkar: Generation of employment is a burning national problem now. Here in Tripura there was no development of infrastructure during Congress regimes and it set us back by many years. Without infrastructure in place, industrialisation that provides jobs cannot happen. And unemployment problem cannot be solved just by providing jobs in the government sector. As you know the centre has a ban on recruitment for many years and today there are over 40 lakh central government jobs lying vacant and which would lapse in the coming years. The Left Front government, despite pressure from centre against recruitment, has provided many jobs in the government sector.  In the last four years alone we provided over 25,000 jobs. In 1972 at the formation of Tripura state, there were only 27,000 government jobs. Today, we have over 1,61,000 employed in government sector.

Apart from this, we are eagerly waiting for the road linkage to Chittagong port in Bangladesh from Sabroom in Tripura, which is a distance of around 70 km. Discussions are going on between governments of India and Bangladesh regarding this and we are hopeful it will fructify in the coming period. Once this access to port comes, it will be a big thing for Tripura. Discussions about the proposed 11 km rail linkage between Agartala and Akhaura in Bangladesh are also in final stages and will improve connectivity further. There is also a move to have air connectivity between Agartala and Dhaka. If all these things happen, and I am hopeful that they will happen, then all our locational disadvantages will be turned into advantages. Tripura will become the gateway to East Asia.

(Q) About the recent natural gas finds in Tripura, what is the situation?

Manik Sarkar: Tripura is a big reservoir of natural gas. ONGC, GAIL and one private corporation are currently carrying out further exploration work in the state. The quality of gas found here is also very good. On the basis of these gas finds, ONGC has set up a 730 MW power generation project. Some private parties have come forward to set up more gas-based power projects. But we are discouraging it as we want to use gas for fertiliser industry and other purposes also. When we combine these developments with the quality human resources, highest literacy rate and increased purchasing power among people, we have a strong basis for industrialisation in the state. Investors are now coming forward to set up industries in the state and this process will strengthen in the coming period.

(Q) Lastly, your comment on the recent incidents linking Congress to extremist elements in the effort to disrupt peace in the state.

Manik Sarkar: Well, you see Congress is getting isolated at national level and here in our state. They are unable to keep their house in order and at the same time they are unable to remain out of power for so many years. So, they tried to repeat what they did in 1988 election this time also by promoting extremists. But they have been caught red-handed trying to incite extremists to strike terror before elections. Their alliance with INPT, which is nothing but a political mask of extremists, also exposed their intention. After they have been caught red-handed, we are also keeping our people on high alert.  There is no room for complacency in this regard.

  

 People's Democracy

 February 17, 2013                                            

Towards a Seventh Left Front Govt in Tripura

By Prakash Karat

THE Left Front in Tripura held a central rally in Agartala on January 20 to launch its election campaign. The state assembly elections are on February 14. I participated in this rally which saw one lakh people attending, a huge number, considering that the total population of the state is only 37 lakhs.

Tripura is in the north-eastern part of the country. It is surrounded on three sides by Bangladesh. It was here in the nineteen forties that the Communist party worked among the tribal people and organised them to fight against the Maharaja and his feudal rule. Nripen Chakraborty, Dasarath Deb and Biren Datta were the pioneers of the Communist movement. The first two later served as the chief ministers of the state.

Tripura has had a Left Front government since 1978. In the first two terms of the Left Front government, there were two major achievements: the implementation of land reforms and the setting up of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council under the sixth schedule of the constitution. There was a break only in 1988-93 when there was a Congress regime. The Congress came to power through a rigged election with the help of the central government headed by Rajiv Gandhi. This was one of the most sordid episodes in Indian politics.The five year period saw semi-fascist terror unleashed against the CPI(M) and hundreds of the Party members and supporters were killed. It was after an arduous struggle that the Congress was isolated and the Left Front regained office in March 1993.

Since then, in the three subsequent elections in 1998, 2003 and 2008, the Left Front won with a two-thirds majority. All in all, the Left Front has been in government for six terms since 1978, except for the one term in 1988-93.

The history of the Left Front government in the last two decades is a remarkable and inspiring one. In the first decade, in the nineties, the state was still affected by the violent insurgency by armed extremist tribal groups. Their attacks had begun in the early eighties. Sheltering in camps across the border in Bangladesh, these groups wreaked havoc in the tribal and hill areas. They were financed and equipped by imperialist agencies and the ISI of Pakistan. They demanded an independent Tripura. Thousands were killed in the three decades of terrorist violence and hundreds of CPI (M) tribal cadres and supporters laid down their lives defending the unity of the people and the country.

The Left Front governments could tackle this armed insurgency by adopting a three pronged approach. First, the political one, of preserving the unity of the tribal and Bengali communities which was sought to be disrupted. Second, by raising and equipping a state armed police (Tripura State Rifles) which could effectively counter the armed gangs. Third, the government stepped up its development and welfare activities once the violence was curbed in the tribal areas.  The Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council was revitalised for this purpose.

Today Tripura is a peaceful state and there is harmony and unity between the majority Bengalis and the minority tribal people. Tripura stands out in the entire north-east for achieving this, whereas there is ethnic and tribal strife in other states like Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland. The CPI(M) and the Left’s role is the key factor in Tripura.

The record of the Left Front government under the leadership of Manik Sarkar is also outstanding in the developmental and welfare activities. It is acknowledged by all that Tripura is the best governed state in the north-east. In the 2001 census, Tripura was in terms of the literacy rate the 11th among all states; in the 2011 census,Tripura had reached the 4th position with 88 per cent literacy. There were no farmers suicides and no starvation deaths in the last ten years.

Tripura has an excellent record in the delivery of various schemes. Tripura stood first in the country in 2011 by generating 86 average man days under the rural employment guarantee scheme (MNREGA). Tripura has also done justice to the tribal people by being in the forefront in implementing the Forest Rights Act. By mid 2012, 1,19,342 pattas had been distributed to forest dwellers securing their land. There are 16 pension schemes that cover almost all BPL families.

As far as infrastructure is concerned, 90 per cent of the total of 8,312 habitations are electrified. 90 percentage of irrigable land has been brought under irrigation facilities and 50 per cent of the total cultivable land is now irrigated.

The biggest step taken by the current Left Front government was the introduction of 35 kgs rice at Rs 2 per kilo for all BPL card holders which is 2 lakh families. In the north-eastern states, rice is supplied at Rs 5 to 6 per kilo due to the higher transportation costs. It was so in Tripura too till August 2012. The supply of rice at Rs 2 has been welcomed by all sections of the people. The Tripura government is bearing the cost of the increased subsidy.

The Left Front was the first to announce its list of candidates for the 60 assembly seats, 20 of which are reserved for scheduled tribes. The CPI(M) is contesting 55, the CPI-2, the RSP-2 and the Forward Bloc-1.

The Congress party finalised its list of candidates among squabbles and open rifts. It has maintained its alliance with the tribal organisation, the INPT which is the body which incorporated the TUJS and some other tribal groups. The Congress traditionally had no base among the tribal people. It therefore allied first with the TUJS and later the INPT.

These tribal organisations have had separatist platforms at various points of time. The Congress had the dubious record of encouraging the tribal separatist and extremist forces just to isolate and weaken the CPI(M)’s strong base among the tribal people.

Today, these tactics stand discredited before the people. The Left Front stands for unity, peace, progress and development – a platform which is attracting the youth in large numbers.

At the rally on January 20, wave after wave of people, marched into the ground raising the slogan “We will bring the Seventh Left Front Government”. This is a pledge which will be in all certainty fulfilled on February 14. 

People's Democracy,January 27, 2013

‘Rule of Anti-socials Now in West Bengal’

Kolkata: THE people of West Bengal are now being left at the mercy of anti-social elements, said Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. In two consecutive mass rallies in North 24 Parganas, Bhattacharjee said, “Anti-socials have realised that they can get away with anything, the party in power is theirs as is the government. Not only are they being provided shelter; the signals being sent out from Writers’ Building indicate that they are free to engage in anarchy.”

Almost every day, the people of the state are now witnessing violence led by the ruling party leaders or the anti-socials promoted by them. The range of attack has already spread from CPI(M) and the Left activists to various sections of the people. Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee questioned the attitude of the state government and said the people would not tolerate the rule of the anti-socials. The time has come to break the silence. The coming Panchayat elections in the state will decide who would win – the anti-socials or the peoples’ power. Left Front will not surrender any space in the elections despite terror.

Underlining that all development had come to a standstill in the state with both the industrial and agricultural sectors languishing, Bhattacharjee said the state government instead of directing its resources for the development of the state, was bringing out full-page advertisements in newspapers with chief minister’s profile splashing all over and is funding festivals. Kolkata is being painted blue and trident street lamps being put up even as the government claims it has no money. Is this not expenditure? The government’s money is public money and it must explain such expenses to the people. 

What is of utmost disappointment is a dangerous stagnation in industries. Bhattacharjee said the government has no industrial policy; it had not moved a single step forward in the past twenty months. Industrialists were no longer keen to invest in the state. On the contrary, companies are leaving the IT hub in the Kolkata too. After damaging the prospect of industrialisation as opposition, TMC is damaging the prospect of new industries as ruling party too. In the agrarian sector, farmers are committing suicide.

Defeat the Politics of Terror

TRINAMUL IN WEST BENGAL

A BRUTAL gang-rape of democracy took place in Bengal on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

A 50,000 strong CPI(M) rally protesting against the attack on senior Party leader, a member of the state assembly, having been elected uninterruptedly for the last forty years and minister for land reforms in the Left Front governments, Abdur Rezzak Mollah on January 6 by Trinamul Congress goons  led by one Arabul Islam who lost the last state assembly elections, was brutally attacked by armed TMC goons. 

Rezzak Mollah was traveling to attend the district Kisan Sabha conference, on the way when he went to visit a CPI(M) office that was ransacked and burnt down by the TMC goons, he was brutally attacked.  He was admitted in a nearby private nursing home.  The TMC-led state administration, in a display of depraved inhumanity, pressurised the hospital to discharge Mollah  without being properly treated.  The intention was to show that he was not grievously hurt.  However, the MRI scan report of the same hospital showed that he had a serious fracture in his backbone near his waist.  In a perfidious manner, the same Arabul Islam, who led the attack, got himself admitted in a private nursing home claiming to be injured.  The doctors there, however, pronounced that he had no injuries. 

In this attack, 20 vehicles carrying CPI(M) supporters to the protest rally were attacked and set on fire.  27 protestors were injured with three suffering from bullet injuries.  Five are in hospital at this very moment battling for life.  Instead of taking any action on those who mounted such a grievous attack, the state police under directions from the TMC chief are arresting those who are victims of this attack.  The perpetrators moved around scot-free while the victims are being arrested under false charges. 

Worse is the fact that senior ministers of the state government are openly justifying this attack and trying to project this as a CPI(M) initiated attack on the TMC.  The right to peacefully protest is a right guaranteed under the Indian constitution and law. Instead of ensuring that the law of the land is implemented, the Trinamul Congress state government has actually been using the state administration to deny people the right to peacefully protest and, on the contrary, to foist false cases against CPI(M) and  Left supporters. 

From May 2011, after the state assembly elections, till December 31, 2012, 85 CPI(M) comrades have been murderously killed by the TMC goons.  There have been so far 848 physical assaults on women in which there were 129 brutal rapes.  In many of these cases, instead of taking action against the culprits, the Trinamul Congress, including the chief minister, has trivialised  such heinous sexual assaults on women.  Rape and physical assaults on women have become an instrument of demonstrating the TMC’s political power.

Since the assembly elections, 42,724 CPI(M) and Left sympathisers were evicted from their regular residences.  Nearly 3,000 houses have been burnt and looted.  646 CPI(M) offices across the state have been attacked and ransacked.  222 trade union and other mass organisation offices have been forcibly captured by the TMC goons.  There is a large scale attack on educational institutions and 84 students’ union offices, where the TMC students wing lost the elections, have been `captured’. 3,336 CPI(M) leaders and activists are arrested on false and fabricated cases. 

There is large scale extortion that is taking place by the TMC goons all across the state.  The forceful collection of money from nearly 10,000 people has benefited the TMC by nearly Rs 28 crores. 

Rezzak Mollah has been the target of the TMC since he was the minister for land reforms.  The Left Front government’s implementation of land reforms  has deprived many a former landlord of their illegally held land above the ceiling.  These sections have been systematically undoing the gains of the poor farmer and agricultural labour as a result of land reforms.  Nearly 3,500 such farmers are not been allowed to cultivate their own land amounting to nearly 10,000 acres.  27,283 patta holders and bargadars who were given land legally under the land reforms have been evicted in an area of nearly 10,000 acres. 

This is the `paribortan’ that is taking place in West Bengal since May 2011.  There is a merciless attack against all political opponents of the TMC and an open daylight murder of democracy and democratic rights of the people.  Such a naked attack on civil liberties and constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights of the people cannot be tolerated. 

Bengal has not forgotten the experiences of the semi-fascist terror that was unleashed during the decade of 1970s.  For full five years, when democracy and democratic rights was severely assaulted by the then Congress party, which included today’s TMC,  many political forces in the country, despite CPI(M)’s warnings,  had seen these attacks as an aberration and isolated in West Bengal alone.  Such illusions were shattered in 1975 when internal Emergency was imposed clamping civil liberties and democratic rights across the country.  It is the Indian people’s struggle for the restoration of democracy that triumphed in 1977. In the election that followed, the Left Front was elected to government in West Bengal and continued to win seven consecutive elections in the state. 

The semi-fascist terror was resisted by the CPI(M)  which lost over 12,000 of its leading cadres in murderous assaults and tens of thousands of families were evicted and many leaders had to function from the underground.  The people of West Bengal, along with the people of the rest of the country,  finally triumphed.  Those who forget this history and seek a similar repetition will meet the same fate – comprehensive political defeat at the hands of the people. 

The people of West Bengal have never bowed in the face of such attacks.  The politics of violence and terror, the current aggressive phase unleashed to terrorise people into submission in the forthcoming panchayat elections in the state, will be defeated politically in a democratic manner.  All those who value our constitution and have faith in our system of parliamentary democracy cannot be mere spectators but need to rise to defeat such politics of  terror, violence, depravity and inhumanity. Such terror and violence has no place in democracy and must be banished.

(January 09, 2012)

People's Democracy

EDITORIAL

January 13, 2013

CPI(M) Protests Attack on Left Activists in Bengal

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) held a demonstration outside Banga Bhawan on January 9 to protest against the assault on Left leaders and activists in Bamanghata, in the outskirts of Kolkata by Trinamool miscreants. Hundreds of demonstrators shouted slogans condemning the attack.

The demonstration was addressed by Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), Central Secretariat members Joginder Sharma, Hannan Mollah and Nilotpal Basu.

The incident is the latest instance of the continuing violence by Trinamool Congress against CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition and the democratic rights of individuals are under constant threat in the state.

Speakers demanded immediate arrest of TMC goons responsible for the incident and reiterated that CPI(M) would defeat all such anti-democratic designs.

  

PB Condemns Attack on Rezzak Mollah 

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the physical assault on Comrade Abdur Rezzak Mollah, member of the West Bengal state committee of the CPI(M) and MLA. Rezzak Mollah was assaulted by a Trinamul Congress leader, Arabul Islam, and others while visiting a party office which had been burnt down by the TMC men. Rezzak Mollah received injuries to his face and has been hospitalised. 

This is the latest instance of the continuing violence by the Trinamul Congress against the CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition. The CPI(M) demands that the TMC leader and others responsible for the attack be immediately arrested. 

The Polit Bureau appeals to all democratic forces to raise their  voice of protest against the thuggish violence indulged in by the Trinamul Congress in West Bengal.

Horrific Attack on CPI(M) activists in Bhangar

KOLKATA: IN a horrific attack on CPI(M) activists, who were coming to join a rally protesting attack on senior Party leader Abdur Rezzak Mollah, Trinamool Congress goons indiscriminately fired and burnt the vehicles carrying people. The gruesome incident took place in Bamanghata, in the outskirts of Kolkata on January 8, 2013. At least three CPI(M) activists with serious bullet injuries have been admitted in hospital while some more received grievous injuries. Fourteen  trucks and mini trucks were burnt and twenty more were ransacked. The entire attack was led by Arabul Islam, a TMC strongman and former MLA, the prime accused in the attack on Rezzak Mollah.

Member of the West Bengal state committee of CPI(M), veteran leader of the peasant movement, former minister and sitting MLA of Canning East constituency, Abdur Rezzak Mollah was assaulted and beaten up by a group of Trinamool Congress hooligans, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday, January 6, 2013.

Hundreds of people from Bhangar and adjoining areas in South 24 Parganas were coming to a rally in Kolkata to demand the arrest of Arabul. TMC activists were well prepared for the attack. Eye witnesses told media that Arabul himself started firing from his revolver and then TMC activists began to fire forcing people to run for shelter. TMC activists chased the people and started burning vehicles one after another.

And there was no sign of their intervention. Even fire tenders reached much later. That the whole attack was pre-planned was proved by the fact that as soon as firing began, a group of TMC activists blocked the road with stones and other obstacles. Some injured fled to villages and could not be brought to hospital till evening.

Three seriously injured persons are Sujit Das, Hasim Ali Mollah and Maidul Mollah. Some more sustained injuries from bullet, bombs and bricks. Veteran teacher and CPI(M) leader Kanti Majumdar was forced to remain at the spot with injuries for two hours when he was rescued.

Meanwhile, thousands of people marched to Alipore in Kolkata, the headquarters of South 24 Parganas district administration at the call of Left Front. The rally was called to demand arrest of Arabul Islam and other criminals who attacked Rezzak Mollah on Sunday. In the huge rally, Left Front leaders including Suryakanta Misra, opposition leader, criticised the state government for allowing mayhem in the state. Left Front leaders met Superintendent of Police and asked his explanation for not arresting the criminals. Left Front legislators joined the rally. Later, Left Front leaders also met Governor and complained about the role of state administration.

Left Front chairman Biman Basu condemned the attack in Bamanghata, saying the democracy in the state is now under threat. Left Front organised processions all over the state, including a central rally in Kolkata on January 9.

In the Writers Building, the state secretariat, industries minister Partha Chatterjee defended the attack on CPI(M) but hurried to flee away from media persons without answering any questions. In blatant exercise of arrogance Chatterjee even praised Arabul as an “energetic boy”.

Rezzak Mollah was attacked when he went to visit a CPI(M) office which was ransacked and burnt down by the TMC goons on Saturday. Arabul Islam himself along with other miscreants attacked him. The senior leader was hit on the eye, lips and stomach. His vehicle was also badly damaged.  The local Party comrades rescued him. He was admitted to a private nursing home. The state administration, in the most inhuman manner, pressurised the hospital to discharge Rezzak Mollah even before he was treated properly. On Monday, the hospital authorities declared that except stitches in the inner portion of his mouth, there is no injury to Rezzak. But in a great embarrassment for them, the scan report of the same hospital showed on Tuesday that he had a fracture in his waist. He was advised to stay in the hospital.

CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu said that the Party strongly condemned the “barbaric” attack on Rezzak Mollah. Describing the incident as the latest instance of the continuing violence by Trinamool Congress against CPI(M), the Left parties and the opposition, he pointed out that the democratic rights of individuals are under constant threat in the state and demanded immediate arrest of TMC goons responsible for the incident.

Instead of condemning the horrific attack, the TMC leader and state urban development minister Firhad Hakim said the incident was a minor one. He, in a way, sought to legitimise the attack. This has become a regular phenomenon in the state - where the ruling party and the administration always protect the attackers instead of the attacked persons. Attacks on CPI(M) workers and extortion from them are on the rise. The TMC leaders perhaps have understood that if they allow people’s voice to spread then that will be disastrous for them in the coming panchayat polls in West Bengal. 

Massive Tribal Rally in Kolkata

KOLKATA: 16^th December, 2012 - THOUSANDS of tribals rallied in Kolkata on December 16 in a massive demonstration in support of  the 22-point charter of demands. The colourful, militant rally was organised by Paschimbanga Adivasi Adhikar Mancha. Tribals from all parts of the state, from tea gardens to jangal mahal, participated in the rally.  Apart from the tribal leaders, CPI(M) leaders Biman Basu and Surya Kanta Mishra addressed the rally. They stressed on the need for united movement for successful achievement of demands.

Biman Basu said the ruling party is desperately trying to fragment the people’s unity to distract their attention. The chief minister is claiming that 99 per cent of the work, as promised by them, has been accomplished. It is now for the people to judge from their experience. The tribals are peace-loving, calm people in general but one should not forget that they too had taken a leading role in theIndependence struggle. If they are subjected to continuous deprivation, they will not once withstand it.

Surya Kanta Mishra said that when the UPA government in the centre was running with the support of the Left, the Act on ‘Tribal rights in forest areas’ was passed. After that the Left Front took steps towards its implementation but under the new government, work has practically stopped. The forest minister is accusing the Land and Land Revenue department for the delay. The fact is, this department is directly under chief minister Mamata Banerjee. So it is her department that is not acting to expedite the process of distributing ‘pattas’ amongst the tribals. The cooperative formed by the Left Front government for the welfare of the tribals in acquiring “Kendu leaves’ and to offer them the right price for their produce, is not being paid any heed by the present TMC government. It is being said that calm has been restored in jangal mahal region but the fact is the TMC has bought the ‘Maoists’ and now they are their leaders, well protected by the police.

Some of the salient points in the demands raised by PBAAM:

●   The tribals cannot be removed from their land

●   The Forest Protection Rights Act 2006 for the tribals has to be implemented.

●   The socio-economic development for the tribals has to be incorporated according to demographic proportion. Special package has to be announced for the affected tea garden workers of North Bengal along with special package compensation to the families of workers who have died. 

‘HOUSING, HARMONY AND DEVELOPMENT FOR SLUM-DWELLERS’

First  State Level Convention of Slum-Dwellers Held in Kolkata

                                                           

By Sridip Bhattacharya

THE first ever state level convention of slum dwellers (bustee basee) was held in Kolkata on December 9, 2012. From this convention, a state level organisation of slum dwellers, “Paschim Banga Bustee Unnayan Samity” has been formed. There was tremendous enthusiasm among the participants in the convention, which saw delegates from all the districts participating.

Bustee organisation has been in existence in Kolkata for decades. In three to four districts, more than three bustee organisations have been formed during the last one decade. In all the remaining districts, serious efforts were put in for formation of bustee organisations in the last two years. Bustee organisations have been formed in all the districts of the state before this convention. The situation was demanding for the formation of a state level bustee organisation for better coordination of their movements. The emergence of a state level slum dwellers organisation will add a new fillip to the overall democratic movement in West Bengal.

SLUM DWELLERS ON THE RISE

The process of  urbanisation is continuing throughout the world. The proportion of urban people in the entire population is rising fast. Same is true for our country also. In West Bengal, towns and townships are coming up in new areas. The state is experiencing significant growth of urban population.

It is very relevant to add that in capitalist system, this process of urbanisation gathers greater momentum. There was faster growth of urbanisation process centering around industrial centres and simultaneously, there was growth of slums that were the residences of workers and toiling people. Very narrow space, unhealthy atmosphere, not fit to live in a healthy way – these are typically the characteristics of slums. All the terrible and inhuman aspects of capitalist exploitation are being manifested in slums.

In West Bengal, apart from Kolkata, some big towns, and many medium sized and small towns witnessed proliferation of huge number of slums and jhopdis. Lakhs and lakhs of people stay in these slums and their numbers are rising. Due to acute land problem in urban areas, these jhopdis are coming up by the side of railway lines, highways and canals. The number of jhopdis throughout the state are increasing. Jhopdis should be considered as the extension of bustees (slums).

MULTIFARIOUS PROBLEMS

All the districts of the state are having bustees. But they are not of the same type. Most of the bustees in Kolkata and Howrah are on the lands of zamindars. They are termed as thika-bustees. In our state, there are private bustees having land deed, Waqf bustees, Vest-land bustees, government bustees on occupied land etc.

Bustees and jhopdis have multifarious problems like inadequate residence, dirty environment, non availability of drinking water, latrine and drainage problem, absence of education and health infrastructure, lack of sports and cultural facilities etc. This is affecting the lives of the bustee people. Issue of identity card, ration card, inclusion in voter list etc are some of the problems faced by the bustee dwellers. High infant and maternal mortality rates among them is common as also malnutrition and spread of various infectious diseases. They are at the mercy of the police, administration and anti-socials. The fear of eviction always hangs above them like the sword of Damocles.

LF GOVT STOOD FOR SLUM DWELLERS

The central government, guided as it is by neo-liberal policy regime, is trying to shift the slums from the cities/towns to the outskirts and fringe areas. Whatever projects are being taken up, most of the slum dwellers are being deprived of its benefits. Due to the anti-people policies of the central government, there is increase in the number of bustees on the one hand and on the other , the government is again attacking the lives of the slum dwellers in the name of beautification. The TMC government of the state has also initiated attacks on the lives of the bustee people.

During the 34 years of its rule, the Left Front government never succumbed to the tremendous pressure brought on it by the central government to remove the slums. The centre exerted tremendous pressure to restrict the maximum limit of utilisation of land, change of land use and lifting the subsidy on use of drinking water, but the Left Front government refused to oblige in order to protect the interests of the bustee people in cities, towns and suburbs.

Urban  development with slum development was the goal of the Left Front government as also no eviction without rehabilitation. Due to these policies, conspiracies of promoters and other dubious people to evict slum dwellers could not succeed during LF rule. Inculcating a sense of right among the bustee people was one of the remarkable achievements of the Left Front government.

EXPERIENCE OF THE LAST 18 MONTHS

More than eighteen months have elapsed since TMC government came to power. In the case of urban development, it has adopted measures just opposite to those of the Left Front government. Slums are no longer its priority. During this period, there has been no distribution of land patta for bustee people. Actually, the fund allotment for bustee development has been reduced with the plea of paucity of funds. Though this government is spending lot of money for festivals and various other extravagant shows, it is citing lack of funds for slum development.

This government has undemocratically enacted a black Act whereby a huge number of bustee people will be evicted from their living places. Since the inception of TMC government in the state, promoters and land agents have become more aggressive. Bustee people are under pressure from money collectors who are intimidating them all the time. New methods of evictions are being experienced by bustee people, which has pushed an already impoverished people into absolute uncertainty and insecurity.

ORGANISATION WITH DEFINITE PERSPECTIVE

This state level organisation has been formed for the defense and enlargement of the rights of bustee people. At the same time, all the issues faced by poorer sections and toiling people are to be taken up by this organisation. Price-rise, universal public distribution system are the issues to be taken up by this organisation. Voices of protest have to be raised against various types of anti-social activities in the slum areas. Different linguistic people reside in the slums. Huge number of Bengal people, as well as non-Bengali people are living in these slums. Also, people of various religions are staying in the slums. Harmful activities of communal and fundamentalist groups can also be found in some of the slums. Bustee organisation has to work for strengthening communal harmony.

In West Bengal, the prestige and security of women are under serious attack ever since the TMC came to power. One of the important tasks of the newly formed organisation would be to safeguard the prestige and security of women living in the slums.

Literacy campaign among the bustee dwellers is to be seriously taken up by this organisation because most of the urban illiteracy is concentrated in slums. Along with this, science-awareness, fight against superstitions etc are to be important areas of activity for the organisation.

The number of unorganised workers, both men and women, living in the slums is huge. These working people facing tremendous insecurity throughout the country. So, bustee organisation will have to play its role in drawing this section towards bustee movement on the one hand, as well as towards the mainstream of working class movement on the other.

This bustee people’s movement will help to shift the balance of correlation of forces in favour of toiling people. It will sharpen the class struggle. This movement is developing in the state to organise all the slum dwellers with the slogans of ‘Housing, Harmony and Development’. This organisation will march ahead with the aims of ensuring security of bustee people’s lives and drawing this section towards movement for development. We are sure that the united struggles of bustee and jhopdi people will be able to contribute in strengthening the overall democratic movement in West Bengal.

Condemns Attack on CPI (M) MLAs

New Delhi: 12 December, 2012 - The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the physical attacks against CPI(M) and Left Front MLAs within the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. As a result of this shocking violence by some Trinamool Congress legislators, two CPI(M) MLAs - Gouranga Chatterjee and Debolina Hembram - were injured and had to be hospitalized.

Instead of taking action against those MLAs of the ruling party who launched an unprovoked assault, three CPI(M) MLAs have been suspended from the House for the rest of the session.

The root cause of the trouble is the TMC’s intolerance towards the functioning of the Opposition in the Assembly. All democratic norms and legislative procedures are violated.

The Polit Bureau protests this assault on democracy. It calls for the revocation of the suspensions of the three MLAs. The rights of the Opposition in the Assembly should be protected and democratic norms observed.